Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Ratings - Community health inpatient services

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Requires improvement

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

We assessed Community Health Inpatient Services, provided by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust at Saffron Walden Community Hospital and Rochford Hospital from 2 to 3 December 2025.

We visited Saffron Walden and Rochford Community Hospital as part of this assessment. We did not visit St Margaret's Hospital, but we reviewed data and spoke to carers from all hospitals. There were 3 wards in St Margaret's Beech, Plane and Poplar.

Saffron Walden Community Hospital had 1 ward. Avocet Ward was a 21 bedded rehabilitation service for patients.

Rochford Hospital had 1 ward. Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre (CICC) was a 22 bedded ward and provided inpatient rehabilitation for patients requiring rehabilitation after a period of illness, mobility, stroke, or a fall. The hospital told us their long-term aim was for the ward to rehabilitate patients following a stroke.

The service was last inspected in May 2018. The service was rated good overall.

At this assessment we identified breaches of regulation 12 Safe Care and Treatment. We identified 3 breaches.

• The service did not always make sure that medicines and treatments were safe, available, and met people’s needs, capacities, and preferences.
• The service did not always detect and control potential risks in the care environment and make sure that the equipment, facilities, and technology support the delivery of safe care.
• Staff had not all received the mandatory training for their roles.

We rated the service as overall good in the community health inpatient service for adults.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, particularly the 5 statutory principles.We observed a multidisciplinary meeting and saw staff discussing a patient whose mental capacity was being assessed.

At the time of the assessment in the last 12 months there were 38 Deprivations of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) applications made, to protect people without capacity to make decisions about their own care.

The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, including DoLS. Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it.

Staff knew where to get advice from within the provider regarding the Mental Capacity Act, including Dols.

Staff took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions.

For patients who might have impaired mental capacity, staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent appropriately. They did this on a decision-specific basis regarding significant decisions.

When patients lacked capacity, staff made decisions in their best interests, recognising the importance of the person’s wishes, feelings, culture, and history.

The service had arrangements to monitor adherence to the Mental Capacity Act.

People's experience of this service

During the assessment we spoke to 11 patients from Avocet ward in Saffron Walden and CICC ward in Rochford Hospital.

Patients told us that they liked the food. They had a choice of up to 4 options, including vegetarian. We observed patients sitting in the day room on avocet ward being served tea and biscuits while watching the television. Staff spoke to patients kindly. We observed staff being supportive reassuring a patient who had been told she would be discharged. Staff spoke kindly to a carer who came in to visit a relative. Patients told us the staff were kind, friendly, lovely and nothing was too much trouble. Patients were supported to learn independent skills again. Patients told us in the Avocet ward visitors could visit freely; there were set hours in the CICC. Patients told us they could speak to a doctor if they had any complaints or concerns and they explained what medication was for.

Patients told us the night staff were mostly good and responsive to requests for help. One patient told us she rang her bell and staff brought her a blanket when she was cold.

However, 1 patient told us the night staff talk loudly early which disturbed her sleep. One patient told us she could have a shower if she requested it the night before. Another patient told us they were able to shower when they wanted, however there was 1 occasion there were told they had to wait until the next day.

Patients told us discharge was well planned with assessments, joint meetings, home visits, and equipment delivered to their homes.

Patients told us therapy was good. Patients had support with their letters. Staff told them what activities were available. One patient told us how staff were supporting them to get in and out of their son’s car safely.

We spoke to 9 carers who had relatives who had been in 1 of the 3 community inpatient hospitals Rochford, Saffron Walden and St Margaret's Community Hospital.

Most carers told us communication was good with staff, 2 carers told us they were not communicated with well.

All carers knew who to speak to if they had concerns.

Most carers told us they were kept up to date and knew if there was a medication change, 1 carer told us they were not involved and 1 carer told us they were asked to be an interpreter for their father.

Carers said staff explained the purpose of the rehabilitation and therapy was good. Carers told us they were involved in their patients care and were invited to meetings with therapists.

Carers told us that staff did listen to them and they were respected by the care team. One carer told us they alerted staff that her relative was left in wet clothes for a couple of hours. Staff did respond promptly once told.

Carers engaged in discharge meetings with therapy staff. Carers told us their relative was well cared for on the ward, however 1 carer told us her relative was not washed.

All carers told us their loved ones were treated with dignity and respect. Carers believed their relatives felt safe and comfortable and they observed kind and positive interactions. Many carers thought the care team were helping their relative to gain independence. Discharge planning was discussed with relatives, and they were included in multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT) meetings.

However, carers had not been offered any emotional or practical support and were not signposted to any services for carer support.

Patient and Carer feedback was gained as part of the Trusts’ internal compliance and feedback from complaints and compliments. Quality Assurance visits were undertaken jointly with the Integrated Care Boards.